One NFL writer is proposing that the New York Jets acquire Mike Evans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a blockbuster trade. Seth Walder of ESPN proposed the following trade between the Jets and Buccaneers:
New York Jets receive: WR Mike Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive: 2024 fourth-round pick, 2025 second-round pick
Evans is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. In 137 games with the Buccaneers, the 29-year-old has recorded 683 receptions for 10,425 yards and 81 touchdowns. Evans has registered over 1,000 receiving yards in all nine of his NFL seasons. The Jets — who acquired NFL legend Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers — could have the best offense in the NFL in 2023 if they figured out a way to pair Evans with Rodgers.
NFL NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers & New York Jets Updates
“Evans turns 30 later this month and while he has maybe shown slight decline, he’s still incredibly consistent,” Walder wrote. “Evans is coming off his ninth straight 1,000-yard NFL season. In fact, he has never not reached 1,000 receiving yards. Evans would cost the Jets $13 million in salary this season and is in the final year of his contract. New York will be pretty cap strapped next offseason, so it would be more likely to add a compensatory pick for Evans should he sign elsewhere.
“For the Bucs, this is recognition that they need to be in rebuilding mode. Paying $13 million to put another year of wear on Evans in a season in which they are +800 to win the worst division in football (per Caesars Sportsbook) does not make sense. They can save money and gain draft capital by accepting that reality now.”
NFL NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers & New York Jets Updates
Evans caught passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady the past three seasons. This year, the Buccaneers’ QB room consists of Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask and John Wolford. Tampa Bay will not compete for a Super Bowl anytime soon now that Brady is gone, so maybe the franchise should rebuild and trade Evans to a contender for future draft picks.
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